How can women overcome negative perceptions about them disguised as societal ideals? Filmmaker Nathalie Álvarez Mesén presents her own examination of feminine reinvention with “Clara Sola.” The 2021 Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight selection sees a 40-year-old woman facing what she’s accepted as the norm, and how wrong it can be to give in to those notions.
Álvarez Mesén — a participant in Berlinale Talents, TIFF Filmmaker Lab, and NYFF Artist Academy — was intent on showcasing patriarchal concepts that move from generation to generation. “Because these norms are unrealistic, we’ll never feel like we’re enough,” the director said. “ I had a very hard time shaking this off as a grown-up (I’m still working on it), because it feels like part of the role I’m expected to assume to succeed in this society.”
Much of the all-important realism behind “Clara Sola” can be attributed to its exceptional performances. Wendy Chinchilla Araya, Daniel Castañeda Rincón, Ana Julia Porras Espinoza, and Flor María Vargas Chavez star in the film. The project represents a major step in the leading cast’s careers, marking feature debuts for the actors.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
In a remote village in Costa Rica, 40-year-old Clara (Araya) endures a repressively religious and withdrawn life under the command of her mother (Chavez). Her uncanny affinity for creatures large and small allows Clara to find solace in the natural world around her. Tension builds within the family as Clara’s younger niece (Espinoza) approaches her quinceañera, igniting a sexual and mystical awakening in Clara, and a journey to free herself from the conventions that have dominated her life.
A woman contemplates her identity in “Clara Sola.” The film is produced by Nima Yousefi, Alan McConnell, Géraldine Sprimont, Anne-Laure Guégan, Karina Avellán Troz, and Marcelo Quesada Mena. The film hits theaters on July 1. Watch the trailer below.